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One day in the week and it so happens to be Sunday, has over the
centuries been treated as a day of rest - a time to recoup. It was also
a day that was set aside for religious observances by both adults and
children engaged in worship as a family unit.
It was also a day when children of whatever religion, would meet in
the temples and churches to attend what is referred to as 'Daham pasala'
or 'Sunday school'. Here priests and elders would spend time teaching
and instructing the youth on moral and religious values and principles
that are very important in the formative years of the life of a child.
Now this day of rest and reflection has been disturbed by all sorts
of worldly activities that do not provide any form of relaxation and
rest, but rather, stress and strain. Any doctor will tell you that the
human body needs rest. Adults have long been ignoring this advice to
their detriment and it is a pity that this attitude is now being foisted
on our children.
Now on Sunday we see children being rushed around to high pressure
tuition classes and to engage in strenuous sports activities and other
extra curricular activities which in the past were confined to the week
days. Now burdening children with these extra activities on the only day
set apart for rest leaves them thoroughly exhausted when they should be
rested and revived to start a new week in school.
A matter of concern is that apart from depriving the child of his
much needed rest, these activities interfere with the child's religious
education and observances. The opportunity they have to be guided and
instructed along correct values and principles in the temples and
churches which are equipped to impart this education is interfered with.
They are also deprived of engaging in worship as a family unit.
Religion plays a very important role in the life of everyone
especially children and our country has always given this high priority.
But we now seem to be going the way of most of the so called highly
developed countries where religion has lost its importance and
significance.
We have to admire our Muslim brethren who refuse to allow anything to
interfere with their religious obligation. To them worship of their God
is more important than anything else. We saw this demonstrated recently
at the ICC Trophy cricket tournament where play was interrupted to allow
for the Muslims to participate in their religious observances.
Our children and Buddhist leaders can take an example from their
commitment and dedication and campaign for a return to the times when
one day in the week was really a day of rest, reflection and worship. A
day of rest should be observed in the week but what we now see is a day
when children and adults are engaged in the 'Rat race'
ZERNEY WIJESURIYA,
Nugegoda
The Editor of the Daily News on Saturday, November 4 had brought good
news to all and sundry by his editorial captioned 'Bring back the
Hangman'.
Every law-abiding citizen will loudly applaud this suggestion.
We Sri Lankans, have a long history of Democratic traditions
extending more than 2500 years. Besides this, Sri-Lanka is one of the
first countries which utilized the Universal Adult Franchise in 1931.
With all this pomp and glory, where do we stand today with regards to
murders and serious crimes?
The reason is, that the death sentence passed by a Court of Law is
not executed.
Criminals know that they do not have to pay the price for the crimes
committed with death. They also know that life in prison is not bad, if
there is money to spend. They could get whatever they want into the
prisons, may be even a stint in the prison hospital where anything and
everything is available for money.
Has the death penalty been abolished in Sri Lanka? Definitely not.
But is not carried out by the Governments in power.
In a case of murder, it is taken up in a Magistrate's Court first.
Here the witnesses are corss-examined at length and if there is a prima
facie case only, the case will be committed to the High Courts.
There again, this case will be taken up for trial and if it is proved
beyond reasonable doubt only, the members of the Jury will bring a
verdict of guilt.
Even after this conviction, the accused appeals against this
judgement to the Appeal Court and it heard by a Bench of two judges, and
if they are satisfied only the death sentence will be confirmed. The
accused cannot expect anything more than that.
Since 1979 with the appointment of the Executive President which is a
political appointment, all the five previous Presidents had been soft
peddling with this death sentence.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been there hardly a year. Hope he
will activate the gallows in the larger interest of Sri Lanka.
ANANDA JAYASENA,
Boralesgamuwa
I applaud the Sri Lankan Government and the respective people who
reviewed this Channel Raja FM for the non-acceptable influence on
children and the degrading comments on women. (Reference DN Nov. 10).
Sri Lanka time and again has always been a very conservative and a
beautiful place to have a home and family.
As for us living in the West - this makes us proud and happy to be a
Sri Lankan to know that our little island has dignity. Keep up the good
work and continue to tread on this path and we will have a corner in the
world a better place to live.
BADRIYA A. AYAD,
via email
I have been reading various comments that many readers had to offer
regarding this contentious issue of Sri Lankan dual nationality
(Reference DN Nov. 6). In principle, I am totally against the Government
policy of charging a fee to retain one's birthright.
I also think it is a violation of one's basic human rights.
If you look at this problem from a pragmatic viewpoint, there is only
a handful of people who apply to become dual nationals this way.
A fee however big or small, from such a microscopic minority will not
bring any noticeable revenue to the country.
It can only deter those who are willing, not to be bothered with the
hassle involved in the process. After all, the heritage you are born
with will stay with you for the rest of your life no matter where on
earth you live.
You are what you are! So to me, there is no question of losing my own
heritage!
If the Government grants dual nationality free of charge, almost
everyone eligible will apply and the chances of such people making
inward investment in Sri Lanka are a lot higher.
This will certainly have far reaching benefits to our country than
earning a quick buck from an application.
Many developed countries such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia
allow their dual nationals to retain the original citizenship with no
penalty. They have long realised of the potential benefits that it can
bring to the host nation.
Dr GREGORY FERNANDO,
via email
It was sad to read the laments of some expatriates in recent times
regarding dual citizenship. (Reference DN Nov. 6) Let's face it.
When the expatriates left this country for greener pastures and
obtained the citizenship of other countries, despite the current
philosophical arguments, made conscious decisions, either voluntarily or
otherwise, to give up their rights and privileges to the mother country.
It is no secret that there are instances where some expatriates who
had left the country on scholarships regardless of the education they
have had in this country, either private or public, thought it fit to
stay on even without paying the respective bonds and deprive the country
of valuable training opportunities. If expatriates now would like to
return, it is nothing but fair to pay not only the $2000 but also any
other monies owing to the country and go through expected procedures.
We all know that anyone worthy of note can afford the said amount.
Sri Lanka is an overpopulated country and expatriates needing to return
should be able to contribute in some form, either in terms of skills or
money, to the progress of the country.
If not, on their entry, they would only burden the already over
strained health, accommodation, security and other infrastructure
systems of this country and also add to its inflation.
It is unlikely the expatriates who cannot afford the entry fee are
able to bring the required amounts of foreign exchange to sustain their
living in this country.
It is my view that expatriates who cannot afford the payment, like in
the case of anything else, should avoid the show and not whinge to
bypass or moderate the entry requirements.
JANAKI WIJEGUNASEKERA,
Australia, via email
I read the article in which Minister A. H. M. Fowzie has correctly
identified the prevailing weaknesses of private bus operators (Reference
DN Nov. 1). Other than those mentioned, the bus conductors are unkind to
the commuters and they don't know even how to speak to the passengers.
The main problem is the buses are stopped for hours, sometimes at
some bus-stops. This does not happen on all routes but most routes are
following this pathetic practice and passengers are used to it.
It is a commendable task if the Minister takes the much needed steps
to streamline the private bus operators in Sri Lanka.
PRADEEP,
via email |
